THE Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is investigating an alleged looting incident during a blaze that gutted down early Wednesday morning a members-only department store in Quezon City.
BFP spokesperson Supt. Anthony Arroyo, in a phone interview, cited a video footage showing that some firefighters who responded to the fire that ate up a branch of Landers department store in barangay Pasong Putik, Quezon City were wearing uniforms different from the standard government-issued uniforms, indicating that they were not BFP personnel.
“The viral video of the supermarket fire incident earlier today confirmed that the incident occurred there and while they were conducting a firefighting operation and mapping operation, some firefighters took equipment there, specifically the alcohol there,” Arroyo said.
“So, we are now conducting an investigation. But, initially, we did not have any such clothing or uniforms issued, the PPE (personal protective equipment,) from helmets down to the tanks, the jacket or the banker,” Arroyo said.
“The tanks, we did not have any such issued and did not have the BFP label. So, initially, we could say that’s not a BFP personnel. But we are still conducting an investigation into whose group and who those personnel (they were),” he added.
Arroyo expressed certainty that the firefighters in question were not genuine BFP personnel.
He also said volunteer firefighting groups were issued certificates of competency, and if violation such as looting occurs and members of such fire brigades were found to have committed such offenses, the certificates may be revoked and appropriate charges may be filed against the suspects.
“So, we can revoke that if it is proven that something really went wrong. We can revoke the certificates of competency, IDs issued as members of the fire brigade with the certification of the BFP, which is proof that they have a COC,” he explained.
Arroyo pointed out that based on official records of the incident, there were 30 units of BFP firefighting assets dispatched to help put out the fire, translating to more or less 30 volunteers groups who responded.
“We follow an Incident Command System. All responding units outside BFP, even within the BFP are listed in our Incident Command System. So, what we recorded, aside from the 28 to 30 BFP firetrucks, there are more than almost 30 volunteer groups. So, all of those 30 are listed in our Incident Command System led by the Quezon City Fire Department,” he said.
A social media post also showed at least two volunteer firefighters taking branded alcoholic drinks from the shelves of the burning establishment.
